Jordan Clarkson Believes Lakers Will ‘Surprise People Next Year’

One of the few positives to come out the last Los Angeles Lakers season as the emergence of second round draft pick, Jordan Clarkson. After taking over the starting point role midway through the year, Clarkson showed promise and impressed his way into a NBA All-Rookie First Selection.

Things didn’t always go Clarkson’s way during his rookie year. Clarkson wrote a piece for The Players Tribune where he looked back on on his past year and what he learned in the process. He offered some advice for the new rookies and told them to not let all the negatives affect their games:

If I could speak to the rookies who were just drafted — that was me a year ago — I’d tell them to have an open mind. Don’t let other people’s perceptions affect you too much. You’re a work in progress, not a finished product. There will be inevitable lows. Don’t let those become what you’re known for. It will be your reactions and ability to adjust that will define how successful your rookie campaign is.

He also had some high hopes for the Lakers and expects the team to turn some heads:

The Lakers are going to surprise people next year. And yes, I’m pretty sure we’re playing again on Christmas Day. I’d like to get a “redo.”

The Lakers took D’Angelo Russell, Larry Nance Jr. and Anthony Brown in the past NBA Draft. Russell, especially, has some high expectations set on him after being taken second overall. He is seen as someone who can help guide the team into contention sometime in the future with his excellent playmaking ability that has already impressed his teammates.

It will be interesting to see how Clarkson and Russell work together in the backcourt. The first viewing of the pairing will be on Friday during the Las Vegas Summer League.